Works of Mercy

Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy

On the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday, Jesus tells us in the gospel three things we can do to return to him with our whole hearts: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18). Prayer means spending time talking with God, praising him, thanking him, coming to him with our needs. Fasting means giving up something as a way to make room for God. Almsgiving means doing good acts. There are many good deeds that we can do, but the Church has given a list of specific ones – the corporal and spiritual works or mercy. When Jesus talks about doing good deeds or almsgiving, he is talking about the works of mercy. In fact some saints, like St. Thomas Aquinas, when they write about the works of mercy they call them almsgiving.

There are 7 corporal works and 7 spiritual works. This is because we are both body and spiritual soul. We have needs of the body (corporal works) and needs of the soul (spiritual works). “The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities” (CCC 2447)

Homilies on the Works of Mercy

Click on the video above to listen to the most recent homily. Or click on the upper left corner of the video to choose from a playlist of all homilies on the Works of Mercy.

Needs of the Body: The Corporal Works of Mercy

To feed the hungry

To give drink to the thirsty

To clothe the naked

To shelter the homeless

To visit the sick

To ransom the captive

To bury the dead

Our bodies have two internal needs for food and water, thus feeding the hungry and giving drink to the thirsty. Our bodies have two external needs for clothing and shelter, thus clothing the naked and sheltering the homeless. Our bodies have a special internal need when sick, thus visiting the sick. Our bodies have a special external need when imprisoned, thus ransoming the captive. Our bodies after death are to be treated with respect, thus burying the dead.

To Feed the Hungry

The poor are not always helped if you give them the means to pay for things that are bad for them. But they are helped by food. Maybe keep tasty health bars in your car for handing out when you are stopped at a light.

Help support apostolates, either with hands-on activities such as actually preparing food and serving it to the poor, or with funding organizations that feed people who are literally starving in other parts of the world. (Funeral Lunch Ministry, Food Pantry, Catholic Relief Services)

Try not to purchase more food than you are able to eat. If you notice that you end up throwing groceries away each week, purchasing less groceries would eliminate waste and allow you to donate the savings to those in need.

Take a friend out to lunch, your treat.

Pay for the person behind you at the fast food drive-through.

Help out at a Parish or Knights of Columbus pancake breakfast or fish-fry.

Prepare and take a meal to someone in your community who is seriously ill, experiencing a death, or welcoming home a newborn.

Give to or host a food drive.

If you bring somebody to Mass or introduce them to Jesus Christ, you are feeding them not merely temporarily, but eternally.

To Give Drink to the Thirsty

For us water is as close as the nearest public fountain. In the developing world, though, having something to drink can still be a dangerous and business

Help sink wells in drought areas and that provide water filtration and sterilization.

Make an effort not to waste water. Remembering to turn off the water faucet when you are brushing your teeth or washing dishes can help, especially in regions suffering from drought.

Pass out water bottles to the homeless.

Take a cold glass of water to a neighbor doing yard work.

To Clothe the Naked

The normal state of the human person is to be clothed in some way.

Clothes exist not just to keep us warm, but to express (and guard) our dignity.

Christ was stripped to humiliate him, as were victims of the Holocaust, etc.

Go through your closet and give away what you don’t need.

Host a clothing drive and donate the items.

Knit, crochet, or sew baby blankets for your local pregnancy help center.

Knit, crochet, or sew scarves, hats, and gloves for your local homeless shelter.

During Advent, toys and clothes collected for those in need.

Score deals at garage sales and send the items to a foreign mission site.

When we search out the “naked” of our local community, we shouldn’t only be looking for those without clothes. We should also look for those who are rejected, alone, and forgotten. They too are “naked,” without friends or family, stripped of all meaningful human relationships. They are like the man in the parable of the “Good Samaritan.” He was not only stripped of his clothes, beaten and left for dead, but also completely alone. Numerous people passed him by and no one extended a hand. He was treated like he was invisible.

To Shelter the Homeless

Taking people into one’s home is not necessarily encouraged since it can be daring and dangerous, but can change someone’s life (for example, in the movie The Blind Side).

Welcome new people into our parish and help them get connected with friends.

Donate time or money to Habitat for Humanity, building homes for those who need shelter.

Volunteer repair and maintenance services for the elderly, disabled, and needy.

Helping people who have been institutionalized get established in an independent living situation.

Catholic teaching on immigration is related to this work of mercy. Do you know what the Church teaches? It is not exactly either of the opposite political views. Knowing might change the way we look at immigrants, especially those who come, whether legally or illegally, to escape truly life-threatening situations in their home country. Look into the causes and challenges these families face just to survive (Justice for Immigrants).

To Visit the Sick

Visiting the sick is something any of us can do, but most of us are not super eager to do since, you know, sick people are sick. In most cases we are not really in danger of catching anything.

That’s because bodily infirmity or any kind is a reminder that we are dust and to dust we shall return. We tend to want to hide the elderly and infirm.

Spend time volunteering at a nursing home, at a hospice – Get creative and make use of your talents (e.g. sing, read, paint, etc.).

Send flowers or a card to someone you know who is in the hospital.

Visit your grandparents.

Stop and visit with an elderly neighbor.

Offer to assist caregivers of chronically sick family members on a one-time or periodic basis. Give caregivers time off from their caregiving responsibilities so they can rest, complete personal chores, or enjoy a relaxing break.

Next time you make a meal that can be easily frozen, make a double batch and give it to a family in your parish who has a sick loved one.

Become an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and bring the Sacrament to shut-ins.

Much of this work of mercy is actually very simple. It consists of giving somebody a little time and attention. You sit and listen and drink tea and chat.

Parishioners providing transportation assistance to parish activities to those in need.

To Ransom the Captive

Sometimes we hear this work of mercy as “To visit the imprisoned.” “To visit the imprisoned” seems to limit this work. The older and better description is “To ransom the captive.” Jesus did not just visit us who were imprisoned by sin by becoming Man, he came to ransom us, to free us from the enslavement of sin.

It has become routine for Pope Francis to visit those in prison. Pope Francis’ mission is to show to these souls that God still loves them and beckons them to reform their ways. Pope Francis is reaching out to these men and women who have made many bad choices in their life and is trying to instill hope in their hearts.

People in prison are still people, made in the image and likeness of God. Get involved in prison ministry. Though we may not be able to “ransom” or free them physically, we can help them see that God and the world has not abandoned them. That they have dignity.

Before she entered the convent Saint Thérèse learned about a criminal sentenced to death and decided to fervently pray for his conversion.

Mentor a teen at a juvenile correction center.

Slavery is still a live issue. On our own soil as well as abroad, there is the ongoing crime of sex slavery, human trafficking. There are goods bought at your local big-box store that were made by people who are, for all intents and purposes, slave laborers. There is, throughout much of the Islamic world, the ongoing fact that slavery has never disappeared and remains a thriving institution.

Purchase fair-trade items which offer better trading conditions to and secure the rights of marginalized producers and workers, so they are not enslaved to poverty (Catholic Relief Services Fair Trade).

Human trafficking inside and out of our country is made profitable because there are so many that consume other people for their own selfish pleasure, whether in person or through images. Included are those dark places of the internet, you know what I am talking about. For those trapped by this sin, I don’t show this connection to condemn you. Rather I want to point out that if you sincerely take steps to allow Christ to free you from this sin, not only can Christ ransom you from your enslavement, but you will also be assisting in the work of mercy to free those whose humanity is being exploited.

To Bury the Dead

Burying the dead seems to many moderns like a weird work of mercy since we tend to think of the body as a sort of container for the soul. It is not a container. Their body is just as much them as their soul, together body and soul make the whole person. That is why we have both spiritual and corporal works of mercy. On the last day our bodies rise from the dead and are glorified and reunited with our souls in heaven.

We honor that by burying the dead, never throwing their body into the garbage

Spend time planning your own funeral Mass. We have resources to do this on our website.

Attend funerals and wakes, and not just when they are convenient. Perhaps attend the funeral of a parish member you do not know. As priests we attend funerals of our brother priests and their family members, even if we don’t really know them well. It can be a challenge to do so at times.

Assist with funeral luncheons, either by serving or making food dishes (Funeral Lunch Ministry).

Children lost before birth, for example through miscarriage, are sometimes grieved alone by parents and forgotten by others. If you know someone who never had any kind of ceremony for their child, encourage them to talk to a priest.

Needs of the Soul: The Spiritual Works of Mercy

To pray for the living and the dead

To instruct the ignorant

To counsel the doubtful

To comfort the afflicted

To admonish sinners

To forgive offences willingly

To bear wrongs patiently

Our souls are in need of God’s assistance, thus praying for the living and the dead. Our souls have three spiritual faculties: Intellect, Emotions, and Will. Due to sin, each of these spiritual faculties can have defects that can be helped by others. When there is a defect in speculative intellect, instruct the ignorant. When there is a defect in practical intellect, counsel the doubtful. When there is a defect in emotions, comfort the afflicted. A defect in the will leads to sin. To help someone not to sin again, admonish sinners. If sin is committed against us, forgive offences willingly. Respond to the consequences of sin by bearing wrongs patiently.

To Pray for the Living or Dead

Do I have a “me-centered” prayer life? We must cultivate praying for others. This will help us acquire the virtue of charity and combat the sins of pride and greed.

Join in the devotional prayer opportunities in the parish, such as the rosary before Mass or Stations of the Cross during Lent (Stations Recording).

Request a mass intention for a friend or family member who is going through a tough time (Call or come to the Parish Office).

Request a mass intention for a friend or family member who has passed away (Call or come to the Parish Office).

Keep your own book of prayer intentions, writing down the names of those who you are keeping in your prayers.

Ask a friend or family member if there is anything you can pray for them about.

Praying for others does not stop once they are buried. The dead need our prayers as we do not know their final destination. Most likely they are in purgatory (we have no way of knowing) and our prayers do help them draw closer to Heaven. It reminds us of our mortality and the fact that we must work hard for our own salvation on earth.

Both the living and the dead (those in Purgatory) suffer trials and both are in need of prayers to help alleviate the time and pain endured.

To Instruct the Ignorant

While much of the world has heard of Jesus Christ, most are ignorant of what Jesus actually taught. There are numerous false interpretations of the Gospels.

Bishops are the primary catechists. Priests are cooperators with him. Next are deacons and then lay catechists who have certification for teaching the faith.

We have a duty to evangelize our coworkers or family members, but we must do so realizing that we can only take them so far. We must act like arrows, pointing to the truth, bringing these precious souls to those who can instruct them fully (like RCIA).

Volunteer to help with religious education programs at your parish; Parents volunteer to help at the school.

Invite someone to go to Mass with you this weekend; answer their questions about why we do what we do.

Godparents or confirmation sponsors call your godchild/confirmandi. Be a part of their life, ask them how they are, how is God working in their life right now? What can you pray for them? (For the Sponsor).

To Counsel the Doubtful

Before we can give counsel we have to be open to receiving it ourselves. “Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may eventually become wise” (Proverbs 19:20).

Follow Christ with the witness of your life so that others may see God’s love revealed in your actions.

Saint Paul’s letters are aimed at “counseling the doubtful,” for he gives sound wisdom and advice to Christians on the road to Salvation. Read and pray with them.

Priests, religious, deacons and even some lay persons are trained to do spiritual direction. Seek one out for ongoing direction or for assistance in a specific instance. Recommend a friend who is struggling to talk to a priest.

Has someone asked you for advice? Orient your response to Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (WWJD? Or better: What is Jesus doing?).

Accompany a friend who is struggling to join a parish group for service or faith formation, share a book you found useful in dealing with your friend’s faith concern.

I also recommend reading St. Francis de Sales’ Introduction to the Devout Life which he wrote for the regular lay person. He uses some wonderful imagery that help to understand and remember spiritual concepts.

To Comfort the Afflicted

We are often afraid of suffering. Instead of facing head-on the suffering in our life and going to others for comfort, we are told to “mask” our suffering by numbing it. All sorts of coping mechanisms have led to the downfall of many (TV, drinking, pornography, overworking).

We even think the solution is not to comfort them but to kill. That is what both abortion and euthanasia really stem from – a fear of suffering so great we end another’s life rather than they or ourselves having to suffer.

Remind those who are suffering of the great power of uniting their suffering to Christ. This is called redemptive suffering. For example, those who are homebound are still incredibly important members of the Church, for they can unite their sufferings to Christ for the good of the whole world. (Archdiocese of Omaha Apostolate of Suffering)

Lend a listening ear to those going through a tough time

A few moments of your day may make a lifetime of difference to someone who is going through a difficult time.

Husbands do you try to “fix” the problem your wife brings to you, rather than simply listen to her first?

To Admonish Sinners

Fraternal correction of peers. How do I talk to a family member or friend who has chosen to live a destructive lifestyle?

First step is to repent ourselves. Acknowledge I am a sinner in need of mercy. Seek the sacrament of Reconciliation. (St. Boniface: 5:00-5:30 pm Wednesdays, 4:15-5:15 pm Saturdays; St. Bonaventure: 7:30-7:50 am Sundays)

Admonishing does not mean we stand on the street and shout out people are going to hell. Only God can judge the state of souls, but we can judge external actions to be harmful to another’s soul and seek to assist them to be freed from sin.

“Stop judging, that you may not be judged.” Is paired with: “remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:1-5) Go to confession yourself first, but you need to also help your brother.

This should always first be done in private. “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.” (Matthew 18:15-18). Too often we want to publicly rebuke them, humiliate them. But this means we care more about getting back at a harm they have done to us, rather than truly help them grow in holiness.

Admonition must be done in the context of an established relationship. They must know that we truly care about their well-being before they are able to receive constructive criticism.

Do not see them as your enemy, but as a brother or sister. We are not waging war against them.

Pope Francis models the first step. When meeting with leaders who act contrary to the gospel, he doesn’t publicly rebuke and humiliate them. Rather he calls them brother, tries to point out the good they do, establish a relationship. He will also from within that context gently shepherd them forward. For example reminding our US Congress of the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Matthew 7:12). This provided a framework for his uplifting sermon that addressed issues ranging from abortion, the death penalty, immigration, poverty and marriage.

Parents correcting their children. “Whoever spares the rod hates the child, but whoever loves will apply discipline.” (Proverbs 13:24) But scripture also says “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4) Parents may need to admit when they go too far in anger.

“That others may become holier than I, provided that I become as holy as I should.” (Litany of Humility)

To Forgive Offences Willingly

Requires a great deal of humility to perform it.

Our Father: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

If we want Jesus’ mercy to be limitless for us, should we not have boundless mercy towards others?

This is the type of heart that we need to cultivate; a heart constantly open to forgiveness. Our hearts must not hold on to offenses for years and years, but be ready to forgive immediately after someone hurts us.

The greatest way we can cultivate a forgiving heart is devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He is Mercy itself and teaches us the perfect and boundless way of forgiveness. Let us rest our head upon His heart and listen to the sweet rhythm of Mercy.

To Bear Wrongs Patiently

Our initial reaction is not “patience” when someone cuts in line in front of us after waiting for an hour at the DMV.

If someone slanders us on Facebook, we believe that the proper response is to slander him or her even more.

Bearing wrongs patiently is not easy. You could say that it is not even “human” to do so. It goes against every fiber of our fallen nature. That is why when someone hurts us we must not act as a “human,” but follow the example of God incarnate.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” (Matthew 5:38-41)

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Requires divine grace to be successful.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Her first victory consisted in bearing wrongs patiently: “A small jar, left behind a window, was found broken. No one knew who had put it there, but our Mistress was displeased, and, thinking I was to blame in leaving it about, told me I was very untidy and must be more careful in future. Without answering, I kissed the ground and promised to be more observant. I was so little advanced in virtue that these small sacrifices cost me dear, and I had to console myself with the thought that at the day of Judgment all would be known.”

St. Thérèse of Lisieux: “For a long time my place at meditation was near a Sister who fidgeted continually, either with her Rosary, or something else; possibly, as I am very quick of hearing, I alone heard her, but I cannot tell you how much it tried me. I should have liked to turn round, and by looking at the offender, make her stop the noise; but in my heart I knew that I ought to bear it tranquilly, both for the love of God and to avoid giving pain. So I kept quiet, but the effort cost me so much that sometimes I was bathed in perspiration, and my meditation consisted merely in suffering with patience.”

Recite often the refrain (especially during temptation): “O Sacred Heart of Jesus, make my heart like unto Thine!”